Pregabalin Compared to Gabapentin for Pain Control in Lumbar Disc Surgery

Gabapentin vs. Pregabalin for Post Operative Pain in Lumbar Microdiscectomy: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pregabalin is claimed to have superior analgesic effect at lower doses and better pharmacological profile as compared to gabapentin esp. in perioperative pain control after major surgeries like intervertebral disc surgery.

The investigators found that pregabalin is equivalent to gabapentin for relief of post-operative pain at a lower dose in patients undergoing intervertebral disc surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 30-60 years age
• Any gender
• elective micro discectomy for intervertebral disc prolapse

Exclusion Criteria:

1. micro discectomy at two or more vertebral levels,
2. Instrumentation i.e. pedicle screw fixation, hooks etc.,
3. history of steroids or alcohol use,
4. Multiple co-morbids i.e. renal failure, chronic liver disease,
5. use of anticonvulsant drugs,
6. Spinal deformity,
7. Obesity (BMI >30), 8) inability to understand and respond VAS and

9) patients with known allergy to GABA analogues.